Education Minister says CALA relevant but needs re...

Education Minister says CALA relevant but needs review

The Herald - Breaking news. — **Minister Torerayi Moyo**

The newly-elected Primary and Secondary Minister, Torerayi Moyo, has supported Continuous Assessment of Learning Activities in schools although he admitted it needs some changes.

Moyo made the remarks after taking his oath of office at the State House on Tuesday.

He said teachers should receive training on how to manage the assessment.

“There is nothing wrong with CALA but the manner in which it is handled is a problem. Our teachers must go for in-service training so that they manage projects that students are doing.

“Also, we need to consider whether the students do have resources at their disposal because CALA involves a lot of research and do they have laptops, iPads, or smartphones so that they are able to conduct CALA but I think the general sentiment among parents is that they want CALAs to be reduced.

“So, we are going to look at the recommendations that were done by stakeholders then we come up with a position,” he said.

CALA is a revolution from the traditional knowledge-based final examination model to a competency-based exit profile evaluation for Grade Seven, O-Level and A-Level learners.

CALA refers to various learning activities or assessments that require students to conduct detailed research-based activities in specific areas where they incorporate practical activities such as data collection through interviews, questionnaires, checklists, observations and experiments.

Parents and guardians have been pushing the government to scrap the CALA in the school curriculum as it is a challenge and expensive, thereby excluding learners from poor families.